NSW Police Seek Court Order to Block Harbour Bridge Protest

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New South Wales (NSW) Police have filed a summons in the Supreme Court to block a pro-Palestine protest planned for Sunday, 3 August 2025, across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, citing major public safety concerns.

The protest, titled the “March for Humanity,” is being organised by the Palestine Action Group, which submitted a Form 1 application to police on 26 July as required under the Summary Offences Act. The group anticipates a turnout of up to 10,000 people, aiming to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Acting Police Commissioner Peter McKenna told 2GB that closing the Sydney Harbour Bridge for such an event poses a “significant risk” to public safety and noted that bridge closures typically require several months of planning. He said police were not given enough notice and described the planned action as logistically unfeasible.

The organisers have vowed to challenge the application in court. Palestine Action Group spokesperson Josh Lees told ABC Radio Sydney that the protest route holds strong symbolic significance and cited previous government-approved closures of the bridge, including the 2000 Reconciliation March and the 2023 World Pride event. Lees also criticised NSW Premier Chris Minns for publicly opposing the protest before the court had ruled on its legality, accusing the government of politicising the issue.

Premier Minns stated that the protest would cause “significant inconvenience” and raise safety risks, a position echoed by Opposition Leader Mark Speakman, who suggested the march be relocated to a more suitable venue. The Police Association of NSW also raised concerns, with president Kevin Morton warning that mixing protest crowds with high-speed traffic was a “recipe for disaster,” as reported by The Examiner.

The protest follows escalating public concern over the reported deaths of more than 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. Organisers argue that recent reports of starvation deaths, as cited by Gaza’s Health Ministry, necessitate a highly visible demonstration of support.

The NSW Supreme Court is set to hear the case at 12:30 pm on 1 August 2025 to determine whether the event can proceed with legal protections. If ruled unlawful, participants could face arrests.

Despite offers from the organisers to delay the march by one to three weeks, both police and the Minns government rejected those proposals on logistical grounds.

The protest has also drawn support from a growing number of civil society leaders, including Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and several Labor and Greens MPs. Labor backbenchers Stephen Lawrence and Anthony D’Adam publicly criticised the Premier’s stance, while Greens MP Jenny Leong described the protest as a “legitimate and peaceful exercise of free speech.”